Please tell me about the Sunshine Coast Australia

[twentypence]

It's about the only warm holiday we can afford in the July school holidays.

Where to stay? (just the two of us, ds will stay here with his grandparents who are over from UK)

What is Alex heads like?

Any Australians up?

Ah, I'd just resolved yesterday to stop posting on the longhaul thread because I was getting so sick of typing up essays about where to go in Asia, what to pack, what to see and the OP would vanish and never come back to say thanks.

You're one of the people I know would pop back but unfortunately I've never been to the Sunshine Coast.

Eids might be around if you keep bumping, but the schools have just started again so she might have her hands full.

Thanks ninedragons. I did try looking at some internet reviews but you can get two people who went at the same time to the same apartments and have massively differing views and unlike mumsnet you can't say "Well what do you mean by that".

Sunshine Coast is lovely. Alex Heads would not be my first pick. Apart from beach there isn't much there. If it is just you and dh I would look at Noosa, Mooloolaba or Maroochydore areas. These areas are full of restaurants, cafes and easy access to shopping centres and markets.

Agree with you that people have differing opinions on where to go. When we went to the UK we were recommended Bournemouth which we didn't enjoy very much but our friend raved about it.

If we went to Noosa, Mooloolaba or Maroochydore would we get away with not having a rental car?

Noosa would be perfect without a car if you are just happy to mooch on the beach and walk to restaurants every night. I would want one if I was staying at the other places

Message withdrawn

Noosa is lovely - we used to use a website called AccomNoosa www.accomnoosa.com.au to get nice rental apartments - you pay a lot less if you stay away from Hastings St itself but can still be within easy walk of the beach. The sunshine coast hinterland is very nice too - Montville etc and there are some lovely guest houses around (or there were 10 years ago anyway!!).

20p have you read through the other thread (on Australia Zoo)? There is a lot of discussion about where to stay on there....

Anyone been to Moreton Island with the dolphins - looks great! We've got a 1 and 3 year old.

JenZen I haven't been but have heard it is great.

20p there are buses to connect you to the markets and shops from most parts of the sunshine coast so you shouldn't need a rental car.

Byron Bay is lovely but hugely expensive. I tried to get 5 nights there the week before Easter and couldn't get anythign for under $2700

If xou are wanting someone nice to stay that is a bit cheaper then Moreton try Stradbroke Island (plus they charge a fortune to feed the dolphins on Moreton). Fabulous beaches on the far side of the islands and very sheltered for little ones. Noosaville is slightly cheaper then Noosa and not as touristy but good for beaches and fishing. Hire a car and do trips to maleny, monteville and the glasshouse mountains.
Coolum is nice and so is Rainbow Beach (pretty coloured sand hence the name). If you are there at the end of July (the 26th) head to Pomona for the king of the mountain festival. Quite a fun day out. I used to go as a kid (i was also the champion for 3 years in the flip flop throwing competition). Head to the Eumundi Markets or visit Australia Zoo, underwater world (my fave) stop in at the ettamogah pub and fro tacky places to visit (always a holiday must as a kid) bli bli castle, super bee, big pineapple and the ginger factory.